By Shayn Satten, “Teen Entertainment Specialist”
To stay booked during the summer, especially on week days, I advertise on Craigslist and am not ashamed to say so. The website is a great free place to advertise for people looking for a good deal.
I offer weekday outdoor parties, which are small, easy, fun events. Yes I charge a lot less than my normal rates, but I stay booked Monday through Thursday, so how can I complain?
My Target Market
My target market is stay-at-home moms or dads, with kids who are having summer birthdays, or just looking to have a nice afternoon outside around their pool with friends and neighbors. These events usually end with overtime and a surplus in your pay plus tips.
When doing these events for teenagers, most DJs will play the current hot music, take requests, and make announcements. You can separate yourself from the regular backyard DJ though, by spicing things up!
Interaction Ups the Fun Factor!
Have you ever considered doing the Cha Cha Slide or Cotton Eyed Joe in the pool? How about a “Deep Diving” contest, where the participants search the bottom of the pool for something that isn’t buoyant?
Other suggestions for games are water wrestling where the people on the shoulders of a teammate try to knock down an opponent.
You can also try an actual diving contest where you get 3 adult judges, grading on form, style, and splash size. Finally, team jump pictures, where you have them break into even teams and jump in the pool at the same time. The team with the best timing on the photo wins.
As for the younger ages, the usual party games still apply. Do musical chairs, freeze dance, the limbo, and all the regulars.
I on the other hand like to put my own spin on things. Have you tried spicing things up with floating musical hula hoops? How about splitting them into 2 large groups and play “keep it up” with a beach ball in the pool?
My favorite pool game is “water wheel barrel races.” One person holds the legs of the other, 1 kicks, 1 strokes, and only one can win. You can also try other water relay races or even a triathlon in the water, on land, and in the air off the diving board.
Backyard parties can be a fun and exciting way to line your pockets on those hot summer days. I recommend them to all the DJs who have a fairly open schedule during the week to try this form of entertainment.
You can reach many guests who may be calling for Mitzvahs, Sweet 16s, and Graduation parties in the near future.
